Lawsuit filed over how Apple split new season of ‘Breaking Bad’

According to a class-action lawsuit brought against Apple, fans of AMC’s Breaking Bad were charged twice for the fifth season, which was divided into two parts.

The plaintiff, Noam Lazebnik, alleges in his suit that Apple deceived iTunes customers by selling a “Season Pass” for the final season of Breaking Bad, then charging them a second time when the final half of the show premiered in early August. Season five is sixteen episodes in length.

News of the suit has hit the tech and TV world this week, and it could have lasting implications for other series on iTunes. Tech site Giga OM was one of the first to profile the suit.

According to the complaint, Apple owes each customer that had shell out more coin for part two of the series either $14.99 (what they paid for the standard download) or $22.99 (for the fancy HD one). Seems like a chunk of change for a TV show, but as a BB fan, I understand.

Observers are of the mind that lead plaintiff Lazebnik has a case, since AMC has advertised this new season as the second half of the fifth season.

Lazebnik himself is a doctor in Cleveland, Ohio, and he is referred to as such in the suit. This is a listing for his services in Cleveland, permitting he’s the only Lazebnik in Cleveland practicing obstetrics and gynecology.

Lazebnik’s suit is based on a breach of contract and violation of California’s consumer protection laws. Wait, why not Albuquerque? Oh, because Walter White isn’t a real person.

One of the lawyers representing Lazebnik told ABC News that their client is just one of many who are dealing with this same Apple issue. For his part, Lazebnik is only asking for $20 in damages. He already got back $2.99 from Apple for purchasing episode nine on its own.

“When a consumer buys a ticket to a football game, he does not have to leave at halftime. When a consumer buys an opera ticket, he does not get kicked out at intermission,” reads the suit.